Headgate Theatre Logo


14 Chapel Street North
Colchester Essex
CO2 7AT
Email:TAAT@Headgatetheatre.co.uk

Current 2010 Programme

September Wednesday 8th Films start 8pm

Colchester Film Society


Bicycle Thieves Victoria De Sica (IT) 1948 94 mins subtitled


September Thursday 9th at 7.30pm

Especially the Latter Part: The Life of Kenneth Halliwell By Richard Ely

Theatre In Reaction


In 1967, Kenneth Halliwell murdered his lover, the playwright Joe Orton, in a frenzied hammer attack, then committed suicide. For years, jealousy has been accepted as the motive. But this solo show examines Halliwell's final months from his own point of view and asks the question: what makes a murderer? Contains some strong language/adult themes - suitable for 16+

Tickets: £:10, £:8 (conc)

September Friday 10th at 8pm

Remember When

Mr Rock ‘n' Roll


A chance to sing, dance and reminisce to over 2 1/2 hours of classic Rock 'n' Roll hits from the 50s, 60s and 70s with Mr Rock 'n' Roll, East Anglia's premiere Rock 'n' Roll entertainer. Hits from Buddy Holly, Elvis, Chuck Berry, Cliff Richard, Jackie Wilson, Bill Haley, The Everly Brothers, the Beatles and many, many more.

Tickets: £10

September Saturday 11th from 10am to 4pm Free

Heritage Open Day


As part of Heritage Open Days the Headgate Theatre will be holding regular brief tours around the building so that you can find out a little more about its history; from Congregational Church built in 1844 via Labour Party Hall to Ladies Health Club to theatre. Just turn up - no need to book.


September Saturday 11th Doors open: 7.45pm

AcoustiCity

Patsy Matheson & Clive Gregson



Tickets: £11

September Saturday 18th 1.30pm for 2pm start Places are free but see note below.

Directors' Workshop

Colchester Theatre Group


Colchester Theatre Group is holding a Directors’ Workshop for aspiring directors and those who love performing.  Small groups will work on practical exercises exploring different techniques and styles.  It promises to be fun for those wanting to expand their directing knowledge and skill and for the performers.  Over 16s only.  Register your interest with the Headgate Theatre box office.  Paid up CTG members will have priority if applicants exceed available places


September Thursday 23rd -Friday 24th at 7.30pm

Whose Life Is It Anyway? by Brian Clark

KATS YTC


A real dramatic challenge for this young group.

Tickets:£7, £6 (conc)

September Saturday 25th at 7.30pm

An Evening with KATS


A mixture of sketches and music.

Tickets: £7, £6 (conc)

October Friday 1st at 7.30pm

Melodies and Marches

Colne Endeavour Music Club


Come and hear the unique Colne Endeavour Band play a selection of music – from beautiful melodies to rousing marches.  The band is truly a community organisation with room for everyone.  Wheelchairs and special needs welcome. With something for everyone, this is an evening not to be missed!

Tickets: £6, £4 (conc)

October Wednesday 13th

Colchester Film Society

The Page Turner


Denis Dercourt (FR) 2006 85 mins subtitled


October Saturday 16th Doors open: 7.45pm

AcoustiCity

Henry Priestman



Tickets: £10.50

October Wednesday 20th -Saturday 23rd at 7.30pm + Sat matinée at 2.30pm

Blood Brothers by Willy Russell

Making Waves for Headgate Theatre Productions


The award-winning company ‘Making Waves’ proudly brings this powerful piece of drama to the Headgate Theatre. Written by the legendary Willy Russell, ‘Blood Brothers’ is a tale of twin brothers who are born into a large working-class family and looks at what happens when their mother decides to have one of them adopted.

This is the dramatic play version not the musical.

Tickets: £8, £7 (conc)

October Wednesday 27th -Friday 29th 9.30am to 4.30pm

Drama Workshop for 8 to 16 yr olds

Polka Dot Academy for Headgate Theatre Productions


Enjoy singing and dancing in a popular high-energy show! Work on a specially-adapted version of the international television hit show 'Glee'. This 3-day intensive workshop will culminate in free performances for an invited audience on the last day. Places are limited to 50 and will be allocated on receipt of money - so book early to avoid disappointment.

Course Fee: £65 (payable by 15th Oct)

November Wednesday 3rd -Saturday 6th at 7.45pm

Hayfever By Noël Coward

Colchester Theatre Group


The theatrical Bliss family independently invite four guests for the weekend to their country house. The guests arrive only to find themselves alternately humiliated and embarrassed by their self-dramatising hosts! 'Hayfever' is considered by many to be Noël Coward's finest comedy. First produced in 1925, it was hailed as a technical masterpiece and remains a classic comedy of bad manners!

Tickets: £8, £6 (conc)

November Monday 8th -Tuesday 9th and Thu 11th at 7.45pm

The Green Room By Paul T Davies

4th Wall Productions


The play is a collection of three monologues by writer and Colchester resident, Paul T Davies. The monologues give the characters’ account of the same event. The main subject matter is to do with unrequited love. The monologues are funny, moving and very honest and this will be their first performances in front of an audience

Tickets: £8

November Wednesday 10th

Miller’s Crossing

Colchester Film Society


Joe & Ethan Coen (US) 1990 115 mins


November Friday 12th at 8pm

Gibbs Rishes Monologues

Moving Tone


Directed by Loré Lixenberg and performed by Anne L Ryan. The silent clown has found her voice. Journeying from Gaelic song to futuristic digital soundscapes, she explores the unpredictable boundary between joy and sorrow, love and hate, laughter and tears. This new vocal theatre song cycle from Moving Tone promises a work-out for your grey cells and your funny bones. See www.movingtone.com/anne-l-ryan for more.

Tickets: £10. £9 (conc)

November Saturday 13th from 2pm to 5pm

Singing Workshop

Anne L Ryan


Would you like to develop your singing and performing skills in a friendly and supportive group? In this workshop for adult singers, each participant will perform a song which they know well, and will receive individual feedback from vocalist Anne L Ryan (www.movingtone.com/anne-l-ryan). Twelve places only – advance booking necessary.

Suitable for 18 yrs and above.

Tickets: £25, £20 (conc)

November Saturday 13th Doors open: 7.45pm

AcoustiCity

Nick Harper



Tickets: £10.50

November Monday 15th -Tuesday 16th at 7.45pm

A Doll's House By Henrik Ibsen

Black Ram Theatre Company


Faithful to Ibsen's original setting, this new version of ‘A Doll's House’ is by Venetia Twigg. Nora makes her last minute preparations under the Christmas tree, knowing full well that the tree is diseased, and it casts a macabre shadow over the household as the needles slowly drop...Frantically she attempts to clean up, but becomes lost in an onslaught of blackmail and pine needles. A period piece revitalised by a fresh telling.

Tickets: £12, £10 (conc)

November Wednesday 17th at 8pm

Dead Reckoning By Eric Chappell

Outloud Productions


BAFTA award winning writer Eric Chappell - creator of TV comedy classic’s such as 'Rising Damp' and 'Only When I Laugh' - has written his first ever thriller. When the mysterious Mr Todd arrives at artist Tony Reed's house and offers to kill his first wife's murderer - Tony cannot stop himself agreeing. But after making this decision, Reed and his second wife Megan find themselves entering a terrifying nightmare from which there seems no escape.

Tickets: £8.50

November Friday 19th -Saturday 20th at 7.30pm

A Word in Edgeways

The Untapped Writers


The Untapped Writers return with a selection from their last twelve months' work. New poems, stories, monologues and sketches to stimulate and entertain.

Tickets: £8, £6

November Monday 22nd -Thursday 25th at 7.45pm

Lucky Stiff By Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty

Unfortunate Events


Unfortunate Events presents ‘Lucky Stiff’, a musical comedy. When an Englishman finds out his uncle has died and has left him 6 million dollars you would think all would be well. But not when this uncle wants one final trip to Monte Carlo! This trip will prove to be unforgettable! Packed full of gambling, cross dressing and maybe love! Will this English nephew be left with 6 million dollars or will it go to the dogs!

Tickets: £7, £5 (students)

November Friday 26th -Saturday 27th at 7.30pm

The Composers’ Cameos By John Wolton

Platform Musicals


The latest in John Wolton's every-popular series of 'cameo' performances. This one is based on letters to and from a number of composers and includes their songs and instrumental music. A section of the programme consists of the music of Gilbert and Sullivan and the whole programme has picture illustrations. 

Tickets: £9, £8 (conc)

November Sunday 28th -Monday 29th at 7.45pm

Playhouse Creatures By April De Angelis

Black Ram Theatre Company


Set in the 1660s, 'Playhouse Creatures' examines the plight of the first actresses to legally appear on stage. Mrs Betterton, old and losing her looks, seeks to pass on her acting 'knowledge' to the younger Mrs Farley and Mrs Marshall. The pushy youngster, Nell Gwynne comes crashing into their world, determined to work her way up from orange-seller to actress. A bawdy tale of a time when it was considered that women had 'No Business' in 'Show Business'.

Tickets: £12, £10 (conc)

November Tuesday 30th at 7.45pm

Moving Images

The Hearing Care Centre


A festive evening featuring the Signing Choir from Lexden Primary School Hearing Impaired Unit, locally made short films from The Colchester Film Club, Grand Raffle and a presentation by Headway Essex.

Tickets; £9

*** Charity fund-raising event in aid of Headway Essex. ***


December Friday 3rd at 7.30pm & Sat 4th December at 2pm & 7.30pm

A Time to Dance

Catherine Pickering’s School of Dance


A happy and bright showcase featuring dance pupils of the Catherine Pickering School of Dance from grade one upwards in a 'timeless' performance of ballet, tap and modern dance.

Tickets: £8, £4 (children)

December Monday 6th at 8pm

The Odstock Curse

Robert MacCall


Robert MacCall returns to the Headgate with this true supernatural story of a deadly curse. Terrifying events haunted the village of Odstock near Salisbury for almost 200 years. A true story of heroism, injustice, intolerance, retribution and reconciliation (more or less in that order) from Robert MacCall's home town. Several people met violent and unnecessary deaths, before the trauma was finally laid to rest in the 1990s.

Tickets: £9, £8 (conc)

December Wednesday 8th

In Search of a Midnight Kiss

Colchester Film Society


Alex Holdridge (US) 2008 90 mins


December Friday 10th at 8pm

Remember When 'Buddy Holly' Special 

Mr Rock 'n' Roll


A chance to sing, dance and reminisce to over 2 1/2 hours of classic Rock 'n' Roll hits from the 50s, 60s and 70s with Mr Rock 'n' Roll, East Anglia's premiere Rock 'n' Roll entertainer.  Hits from Buddy Holly, Elvis, Chuck Berry, Cliff Richard, Jackie Wilson, Bill Haley, The Everly Brothers, the Beatles and many, many more.

Tickets: £10

December Saturday 11th Doors open: 7.45pm

AcoustiCity

Jerry Donahue & Doug Morter



Tickets: £11.50

December Wednesday 15th -Saturday 18th at 7.30pm

A Christmas Carol By Charles Dickens adapted by Richard Bland

Mad Hatter Productions


The wintry tale of Ebenezer Scrooge, an aged miser who has little time for anything other than business. One miserable Christmas Eve, he is visited by the spirit of Jacob Marley, who warns Scrooge of the error of his ways and tells him that he will be visited by the ghosts of Christmas Past, Christmas Present and of Christmas Yet To Come. 'A Christmas Carol' marks Mad Hatter's fourth production at the Headgate Theatre and the performance debut of the writing of Richard Bland.

Tickets: £8, £6 (conc)

December Sunday 19th at 8pm

Christmas Concert

Sid Bolan Big Band


Playing music in the big band idiom with a Christmas flair - and making it swing! Suitable for all the family. Come and enjoy!

Tickets: £10

December Tuesday 21st -Thursday 23rd from 10am to 4.30pm

Pantomime Workshop

Neil Clench/Scenario Workshops


It's panto time again..."Oh Yes it is" This action packed 3 days will lead you through the world of pantomime this festive season. Lose yourself in a fun-filled festive course that will give you full insight into the world of pantomime and the slapstick jokes that go with it. Play a Dame or play the Villian. You will have so much fun - "Oh no we won’t" I hear you cry! OH YES YOU WILL....Sign up today!

Course fee: £65

January Saturday 15th Doors open: 7.45pm

AcoustiCity

John Otway (tbc)



Tickets: £11

January Tuesday 18th -Saturday 22nd at 7.30pm & Sat 22nd & Sun 23rd at 2.30pm

Beauty and the Beast By Kerry King

Headgate Theatre Productions


This classic French fairy story has all the fun ingredients that children and adults have come to expect. This magical tale tells the story of Belle who longs for romance and adventure. Little does she know they will come when she becomes the prisoner of a monstrous Beast in return for her father's freedom. Fun, laughter, songs, colourful characters and of course the fairytale has its magical ending

Tickets: £8, £6 (conc)

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